Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

Section 104(a) of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 amended the National School Lunch Act to provide an alternative to household eligibility applications for free and reduced price meals in high poverty local educational agencies (LEAs) (or districts) and schools.  The overall purpose of the CEP is to improve access to nutritious meals for students in high poverty areas by providing meals to all students “at no cost” to the students. 
 

CEP Regulation/Guidance     

• SP 08-2024 - Community Eligibility Provision: Planning Implementation Guidance - Updated
• Community Eligibility Provision (CEP): Planning and Implementation Guidance Manual
• SP 09-2024 Community Eligibility Provision: Guidance and Updated Q&As | Food and Nutrition Service
• CEP - Title I Guidance (USDE) (rev 15-0011.doc)
• FCC-14-99A1 - Modernizing the E-rate Program for Schools and Libraries 
   

CEP Worksheets   

• CEP Site Data Worksheet Template
  • SAMPLE - CEP Site Data Worksheet
• CEP Traditional vs CEP Claiming Worksheet
  • SAMPLE - Traditional vs CEP Claiming Worksheet 

Continuing Education Resources

• 03.13.2025 Recorded Webinar
  • password: 9yX2P59s
• Webinar PowerPoint Handout (pdf) rev 03.31.2025
   

Additional CEP Information & Data 

• Small Bites CEP Overview
• Small Bites CEP Requirements
• SFA ISP Validation Checklist
• Standard Operating Procedures: ISP April 1st Data Pull
• CEP Annual Notification of Schools Eligibility Report
• USDA Community Eligibility Provision Resource Center
• USDA Community Eligibility Provision Evaluation  
• Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Community Eligibility Information